How to Lift Your Spirits with Music

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If you've ever felt a sudden rush of joy because a favorite song came on the radio, you know that music can have a profound effect on your emotions. Taking advantage of that can help you beat a bad mood, maintain a good one, or simply rejuvenate and relax, says Alicia Ann Clair, Ph.D., MT-BC, professor of music therapy at the University of Kansas.

Tune in.
To cheer up or boost energy, listen to Latin music or anything with accented beats, lots of percussion and a fast tempo. Conversely, when you want to wind down, music with string instruments and woodwinds, less percussion and a slower tempo can calm you.

Keep time.
Listen to calming music before tackling stressful activities, recommends Dr. Clair. "Once you're in a good state of mind, it's easier to maintain." To destress at work, put on relaxing tunes only when you really need them. "If you listen to them all day long, you will screen them out," Dr. Clair explains.

Harmonize.
You can change your mood by switching from one kind of music to another. To rejuvenate, "start with something serene and relaxing, then gradually pick up the tempo and beat," says Dr. Clair. For example, play Frank Sinatra ballads, then move on to something energetic such as Aretha Franklin. If you've had a frantic workweek and want to calm down, reverse the process.

Last Updated:5/16/2008

Republished with permission from , a publication of Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.